Don’t trust Rouzel Soeb! 

Wait … what?! How can a writer ask not to be trusted?

The phrase “Don’t Trust Rouzel Soeb” that I use as a slogan here does not reflect my character. I am a female author from Indonesia. In creating my novels— which often incorporate various types of twist — many readers are frequently surprised. It’s not uncommon for them to protest, especially those who don’t understand the patterns of novels with intricate plots or unusual storylines, which are still not popular in Indonesia.

I essentially use the slogan “Don’t Trust Rouzel Soeb” to describe the content of my work. In my novels, many aspects differ from the idealized image that appears on the surface. I often portray the characters in my stories as having two sides—good and bad, not always consistently good or sweet.

In real life, I find many things different from what appears on the surface. My own character, the characters of others, the course of life, and so on—all of these often have a twist.

Of course, people can be different based on their life experiences — the trauma and bitterness they have endured, the fear, anger, and happiness they have felt, and many other factors. Naturally, this can serve as a turning point in one person’s life, also impacting the path of another person’s life.

I mentioned in one of my novels that black, white, and even gray are not truly considered real colors in the context of the light spectrum on Earth. The colors of the light spectrum entering the Earth consist of various hues that we can collectively call ‘colorful.’ Therefore, I believe that all human beings, in terms of their characters and lives, will always be colorful.

Be careful; whether something is considered good or bad often stems from social stigma standards that may lead someone to feign virtue to appear as the best. That’s why I ask my readers not to fully trust the initial descriptions of characters or plot in some of my novels. What people perceive or grasp at the beginning of the story may evolve as the storyline unfolds.

Not all of my stories will please you or live up to your expectations. So, yep… “Don’t Trust Rouzel Soeb” is a phrase I specifically employ in literature, aiming to discourage quick judgments based solely on surface observations or short periods of time. Even our own selves can undergo changes due to a single event or pursuit of an ambition, don’t you think?

Well, warm regards to all of you, dear readers. Enjoy your reading!